Ola Kassim MD, FRCPC, FCAP,
Advisor, Coordinating Committee, Region 7
West Parry Sound Health Center;
Whitby Psychiatric Hospital, Districts of Parry Sound-Musoka and North Simcoe, Toronto Ontario, Canada, Bio
Robert Ngwu, FLMI, AC, CTM, EMHI
Advisor, Coordinating Committee, Region 4
American Express Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, Bio
Lawal Garba, MD
Co-coordinator, Coordinating Committee Region 2
North Carolina, USA,
Dr. Ola Kassim has been the Regional Forensic Pathologist for the Districts of Parry Sound - Muskoka and North Simcoe and a duty physician at the Whitby Psychiatric Hospital since 1985. He also serves as Pathologist-in-Chief and Director of Laboratory Services at the West Parry Sound Health Center, Parry Sound, Ontario. From 1983-85, he was a Lecturer in the Dept. of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, U of T; was also Associate Staff Pathologist at Sunnybrook Medical Center, 1983-84.
AFFIL/MBRSHP:
Society of Northern Ontario Pathologists; Canadian Medical Association; Canadian Association of Pathologist; American Society of Clinical Pathologist
COMMUNITY:
Advisor, Coordinating Committee, Board of Directors Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, NIDO Americans Inc.; BBPA; Yoruba Cultural and Heritage Assn.; Rotary Club/Richmond Hill; Assn. of Nigerians
HONS:
Metro Toronto Civic Award, 2000; Academic Excellence, Nigerian Cdn Assn., 1999; Leadership Award, Cultural Assn., 1996, >97; Community Leadership, Yoruba Cultural Assn., 1996 >98.
WORKS:
selected co-authored articles includes: AMyocardial Infarction in Utero@; AHarmatoma of the Larynx@; Ovarian carcinoid tumor with massive retroperitoneal fibrosis@
EDUCATION:
Fellow, American College of Pathologists, 1983; M. Public Admin. (MPA), Queen=s U., 1999; MD, Faculty of Medicine, U of T, 1981; Biopsies sigmoid colon, MB, U. of Ibadan, 1975
Robert Ngwu has a multi background in Applied Economics, Financial Econometrics,Communication, and Computer Science. Mr. Ngwu typically wears many hats at American
Express Financial Advisors as a Senior Associate, and has worked for the company as an individual contributor, expert, and currently as a people leader. He was
recently promoted as a Six Sigma Black Belt Project Consultant under the Transfer
Research group, responsible for scoping, developing and project execution of
Six Sigma process improvements within a newly established Business Transformation
utility to support Brokerage, Strategic portfolio, Wealth management, and Premium/Platinum
groups.
Mr. Ngwu, has participated in other ad hoc projects within the company, including:·
Product management data analysis and reporting project aimed at compliance
with the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) Books and Records requirement
Development of long term strategies for presentation to senior
management; involving concept development, financial modeling, and cross-organizational
alignment.
American Express Company versus American Express Financial Advisors
2005 Spin out project
Experienced Advisors Recruitment project aimed at seeking out experienced
financial advisors in the industry, offer special incentives to have them
transfer to
American Express with all their clients.
Affiliations/Memberships:
Applied Econometric Association, National Association
of Security Dealers, Minnesota Associations of Realtors; National Associations
of Realtors; Republican National Committee.
Community:
Vice Chairman, Board of Director Nigerians in Diaspora Organization,
NIDO Americas Inc.; Public Relations, Channel Afrique Inc.; Asst. Fin Sec, Enugu
USA; Vice Chairman, 5th Congressional District, Republican Party; Minnesota State
Delegate, Republican Party; Toastmasters International.
Hons:
American Express Global Customer Service Award, 2003; Nominee Chairman
Award American Express Company 2004; Competent Toastmaster (CTM), 2004.
Education:
Fellow, Life Management Institute, 2005; Fellow, Financial Service
Institute, 2005; Concluding MBA Global Management University of Phoenix;
BS Economics University of Minnesota &University of Nigeria Nsukka;
AB Computer Science Programming Metro State University (MCTC); OND Mass
Communication/Journalism
Institute of Management and Technology Enugu
Certification:
National Association of Security Dealers Series 7; National
Association of Security Dealers Series 6; National Association of Security
Dealers Series 63; National Association of Security Dealers Series 24, Six
Sigma Black Belt, ACS.
Prof. Dennis Odionyenfe Balogu is a tenured professor of International Agriculture and Acting Director of the International Affairs/Programs at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). He received his high school education at Government Comprehensive Secondary School Port-Harcourt and Government College, Umuahia, Nigeria before traveling to the United States for his university education in 1976. With five university degrees, Prof. Balogu graduated from the University of Idaho with B.S. degree in Animal Science and Chemistry; Northwest Missouri State University with M.S. degree in International Agriculture; Mississippi State University with M.S. degree in Dairy (Milk Production) Science, and Ph.D. in Nutrition and Physiology; and University of Arkansas, Little Rock with M.P.A. (Master of Public Administration). He had a Post-Doctoral work at Mississippi State be undertaken continuing education studies through workshops/training programs in Institutional Administration and Management, and in specialized implementation procedures of government regulatory policies. As a teacher, a researcher and an administrator, Balogu has advised and graduated several students, won and executed several funded research grants in applied agricultural production, published research reports and articles in several professional journals, and presented professional papers at several professional meetings and conferences. He, also writes and publishes articles and participates in invited lectures in social and political issues that relate to mostly, Africa and the Africans.
In the area of International Agriculture, Prof. Balogu has been involved in several
training, research and extension programs that are sponsored by the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO/UN); World Bank; United States
Agency for International Development (USAID); United Nations Development Program
(UNDP); and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In 1989, Balogu was
the Training Coordinator of an FAO sponsored six-month Advanced Dairy Production
and Nutrition Training Program for Turkish citizens. Later, he traveled to Liberia,
Nigeria and Cameroon to assess potentials of executing aspects of his research
project in aquaculture production. He participated in the training of Nigerian
government officials (Ondo State) in a World Bank sponsored agricultural training
program which took place in Arkansas in 1993. In 1995, Balogu served as a Visiting
Professor at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Nigeria where
he participated in reviewing academic curricula in agricultural sciences and
studied the efficacy of integrated crop and food-animal production systems in
Nigeria. Later, Balogu traveled to South Africa under a U.S./South African Bi-National
Commission on Agriculture as the project director of the U.S./South African Farmer-to-Farmer
Study Program. He was an Acting Director of International Affairs/Programs (1999-2001).
Currently, Balogu is an International Affairs Officer and a Designated School
Official for compliance to government policies by international faculty and students.
Balogu has served in several university-wide and national committees, and international
organizations. In the University community, Balogu has served as the Vice President
of the Faculty and Staff Senate, Chairman of the University-wide Budget Committee,
and Chairman of the Chancellor’s Task Force for Institutional Policies.
Currently, Balogu serves as the Chairman of both Tenure and Promotion Committee
for Agriculture Faculty and Peer Review and Faculty Evaluation Committee.
Nationally, Prof. Balogu has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors,
Pond Dynamics/Aquaculture - Collaborative Research Support Program - CRSP (a
more than $34 million grant’s consortium for international development
in food-fish production), Oregon. He was appointed by the Chancellor to represent
the University as a Trustee/Alternate, Board of Trustees of a Washington, D.C-based
Southeast Consortium of International Development (SECID), a consortium of more
than twenty universities that are involved in developmental research, training
and extension services in several countries, especially, in developing countries.
Balogu is also a member of the Advisory Board, Lonoke Research and Production
Farm, Arkansas.
Prof. Balogu is very active in Diaspora matters and issues. He is a founding
member and member of Board of Directors of Nigeria In Diaspora Organization in
the Americas (NIDO-Americas); Chairman, Central Constitutional Review Working
Group (CCRWG) for National Political Review Conference (NPRC); Chairman of the
Supervisory Council, Arkansas Association of Nigerians. Currently, he serves
as the Secretary-General of the Arkansas Association of Nigerians. As a strong
advocate for the preservation and development of African Languages, Tradition
and Culture, Balogu is serving that cause as the Chairman of the Board of Directors,
SPILCA, Inc.
Earlier, Balogu served Nigeria Airways Limited, Ikeja in Personnel Administration
as an Establishment Clerk and later as a cadet Flight Operations Officer.
Mary (Molly) Egondu Uzoh is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Learning Right Technologies, a Silicon Valley based small business that specializes in Information Technology consulting and educational services/tools. Her company is known for interactive multimedia e-learning curriculum development, FOSS implementation, leadership and technical training; educational television production, and research. Molly is a Ph.D candidate in curriculum and Instruction with specialization in Instructional Technology. She has Masters in Curriculum and educational Technology/Educational Administration. Her bachelor’s degree is in Mathematics with a Minor in Computer Science. She holds a New York State School Administrator and Supervisor Certification, as well as a New York State Mathematics Teacher Certification, and Nigerian Certificate in Education. She brings with her, the expertise and diverse skills needed for leadership and project management, familiarity with multilevel organizational learning strategies and world leading interpersonal Styles and Team Building instruments like FIRO-B™, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, 360 Degrees feedback, etc. Below is a sample of what she does.
GLOBAL TRADE AND STRATEGIC ALLIANCE/AWARENESS
Molly successfully propelled the first (2003) “Silicon Valley Hi-Tech Strategic
Alliance Networking for a Nigerian team - Nigerian Computer Society (NCS.) She
helped to facilitate the Ugandan ICT Delegation Workshop for Silicon Valley International Trade Development (CITD.) She has served as the VP of Education and Community Development for San Jose Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Global Trade Advisor
for Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce. She is also a member of the Task Force on the inclusion of Africa in the Students Exchange and Campus Abroad Programs
in Colleges in the Bay Area of California. E-LEARNING AND CORPORATE MANAGEMENT
She is a key player in corporate e-learning initiatives. She established and
managed the first engineering training department at Legato. She also facilitated
corporate universities and e-business initiatives, strategic alliance, new product
readiness, and program management especially at Legato and Maxtor. She facilitated
the web-based interactive multimedia initiative, which eventually led to the
introduction of full-fledged e-learning curriculum at faculty Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute (RPI) Troy, New York. She trained and provided technical assistance
to faculty members on multimedia data management and on-line course design including
menu-based database construction and maintenance, reference libraries, technical
bibliographies, and dynamic searchable data storage and archiving.
TEACHING AND TEACHER DEVELOPMENT
Over 10 years of Molly’s teaching experience span across elementary school,
middle school and High school Mathematics and English teacher, as well as college
instructor for Mathematics and Computer Applications for Decision Makers both
in Nigeria, and the United States. She drafted the first Troy School District
K – 12 Mathematics and Technology curricula in alignment with New York
State Learning Standards, following it up with complementary teacher training,
competency standards and sample performance and change management strategies.
RADIO, TELEVISION AND OTHER MEDIA
Molly tries to integrate her media, technology, ethnic and academic background
to the contemporary needs of the educational services and Information Technology
industry. She has put in many years in the media industry as a writer, Actress
and Producer of weekly prime time television (sitcom, cultural, and educational)
shows, stage plays, Educational Video and Documentaries. She recently piloted
a weekly educational and African cultural show called African Television on Comcast
for Silicon Valley audience. Prominent among her media projects are a cultural
documentary: Behind the Talking Drum with Cablevision, Wappingers Falls, NY;
JAMB: Joint Abuse of Man’s Brain. A satirical Television Drama which was
indirectly calling for the improvement of the quality of JAMB (Joint Admission
and Matriculation Board) produced with James Iroha for Imo Broadcasting Corporation
Television (IBC-TV,) Nigeria. She moderated some episodes of “Choices” a
local radio show in Poughkeepsie, NY in 1994. Molly wrote several News Commentaries
on contemporary issues for Imo Broadcasting Service (IBS,) Nigeria between 1981
and 1985. She has also contributed to many newspapers, magazines and various
publishing companies including the Smithsonian, Washington DC. as a freelance
writer or Editor.
Emmanuel is a practicing physician resident in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He is also a specialist in hospital administration, and is administrative director of Afromed Servicos Medicos, a healthcare delivery organization he owns with another Nigerian. Afromed also offers consultancy services in the establishment of healthcare delivery systems. Emmanuel heads this consultancy unit, and together with his partner has been pushing for a universal healthcare delivery system for Nigeria which intends to cater to the general health needs of all. Emmanuel’s endearment to NIDO and all her ideals derives from his belief that sooner or later, this project has a lot to offer to a fellow third world country, because Brazil also suffered an appreciable military interregnum. Emmanuel is in his second term as a director of NIDO Americas, representing the Caribbean, Central and South America. He has almost always been present in all NIDO functions--from the inaugural dialogue in September, 2000 to date.
Emmanuel read medicine at the ``Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas``of FESP--Universidade de Pernambuco in Recife, Pernambuco, a state in the Brazilian Northeast region. After graduating in medicine in 1992,he went down to Sao Paulo, the economic nerve centre of Brazil, where he lives presently. At Sao Paulo, he went on to acquire a specialist certificate in hospital administration always with the dream to help establish a Universal Healthcare Delivery System in Nigeria. Emmanuel also sat for and passed the examinations for the title of specialist in accidents and traffic medicine of ABRAMET (Associacao Brasileira de acidentes e medicina de trafego) in 1998 even though he does not exercise this medical specialty. Emmanuel has participated in various congresses in healthcare delivery and healthcare delivery systems in several Brazilian cities in the last few years, and continues to do so as the medical calling demands.
